Mobile phone coverage

[Gert Duson]

Hi all,

On 1st October I'm leaving for a Trans-Africa trip by Citroën 2CV, driving from Brussels to Cape Town. A Belgian national radio station would like to contact us weekly or bi-weekly to get progress-updates and to let their audience listen to African radio-programmes. My question is: Can we -in capitals and big cities- be reached with a mobile phone (900/1800 Mhz)? I guess from Kenya onwards, direction south it will be pretty OK, but what about the north: Algeria, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia?
And my second question: do radio stations mainly broadcast on the FM?

Friendly regards
Gert


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Crazy traveller

[Chris Scott]

As far as I know:
Algeria, nowhere in the south
Agadez/Niger - doubt it except maybe Niamey,
Chad - doubt it.
Others, dont know.
There are regular phones in all towns of course.

Chris S

[Sam Rutherford]

Hiya Gert!

Tamanrasset is a yes for Belgian/French Service Providers (not UK subscribers). Niger was a non-starter (Arlit/Agadez) - didn't try Niamey. Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo and Benin also no problem with Belgian/French SP, UK SP only worked in Ghana and Ivory Coast.

You will only get coverage in capitals and then possibly the largest towns.

FM is your main transmission area for commercial radio (international standard), you've got MW and AM there as well - similar coverage to 'phones.

See ya,
Sam.

Sam.

[Jose Brito]

Hi,

Check this URL: http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/index.shtml

Good luck,
José

[Gert Duson]

Cheers José,

Never seen such a useful GSM-site. Amazing to find out that even Sudan & Ethiopia are so well-covered!

Regards
Gert